Talkin' Shop

On Talkin' Shop this week, we sit down with Ben Collins (ex-Stig), where he shares Top Gear's craziest moment, how he hid his identity (including the famous Michael Schumacher cameo), and why modern F1 cars are too heavy for great racing. We dig into Ben's racing background, teammate rivalry, favourite road car (Porsche Carrera GT), and how blockbuster stunts in Bond, Star Wars and Fast & Furious get planned for real, using little to no CGI.There's plenty of Top Gear lore – from rocket cars to the Winter Olympics Mini Jump – and candid talk about leaving the show after his identity leaked. Ben also shares what's next, doubling down on YouTube and planting a cider orchard.-Brought to you by Eclipse Diagnostics. If you work on commercial vehicles, vessels or machinery, check out Jaltest – the UK's leading multi-brand diagnostic tool. Quote "TALKINSHOP" in your enquiry for a free cable saver with your order; on-site training included:https://www.eclipse-tech.co.uk/jaltest-software/-Ben Collins:https://www.instagram.com/bencollinsstig/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9V9pNeL49_40j3g-11OYEQhttps://www.youtube.com/@BenCollinsGaminghttps://linktr.ee/bencollinsstigBen's Cider:https://www.sandfordorchards.co.uk/product/sandford-orchards-x-bens-cider/--To watch the video version of this podcast, visit our YouTube channel:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjuQ2nCNFT_r82U6pblEMMhlqi7416p7XFollow us on social media:Talkin’ Shop:https://www.instagram.com/talkinshoppodcast_/https://www.tiktok.com/@talkinshoppodcastEclipse:https://www.facebook.com/truck.diagnosticshttps://www.linkedin.com/company/eclipse-automotive-technology-ltd/https://www.instagram.com/eclipsediagnostics_/

In this episode of Talkin' Shop, we sit down with Edwin and Will of Top Dead Center (TDC), where they talk all things cars, content and chaos! From buying a fire-damaged Porsche 911 straight from a scrapyard to having their humble FTO auctioned up to a ridiculous £150 million on eBay, the lads share the highs, lows, and laugh-out-loud moments of building a YouTube channel around their passion for cars.They open up about what success really means, recently getting to drive their dream cars, and why YouTube can be both brutal and rewarding. Plus, we get the inside story on how Will and Edwin first met and built the bond that fuels TDC today.Top Dead Center:https://www.youtube.com/@TopDeadChttps://www.instagram.com/topdeadc/-Take the guesswork out of vehicle, vessel or machine repair with Jaltest from Eclipse, the No.1 multi-brand diagnostic tool. Get a FREE cable saver with your Jaltest order when you quote promo code "TALKINSHOP" in your enquiry.https://www.eclipse-tech.co.uk/jaltest-software/--To watch the video version of this podcast, visit our YouTube channel:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjuQ2nCNFT_r82U6pblEMMhlqi7416p7XFollow us on social media:Talkin’ Shop:https://www.instagram.com/talkinshoppodcast_/https://www.tiktok.com/@talkinshoppodcastEclipse:https://www.facebook.com/truck.diagnosticshttps://www.linkedin.com/company/eclipse-automotive-technology-ltd/https://www.instagram.com/eclipsediagnostics_/

In this episode of Talkin' Shop, Louis and Aaron sit down with Max Haftavani from Driven+ to talk about his journey from hosting car meets at his family’s pub in Wales to building a 50,000-strong YouTube community.Max opens up about the review that put him on JLR’s radar — releasing his take on the Range Rover Sport SV before the embargo lifted, and documenting the car’s shocking drivetrain failures. The fallout? Angry emails, viral videos, customers demanding refunds… and even rumours of an internal JLR memo warning dealerships about his content.Beyond the drama, Max shares his passion for attainable performance cars, the chaos of 120 cars turning up to his parents’ pub, why relatable BMWs and Audis outperform supercars on YouTube, and the unforgettable moment German police fined his road trip convoy €3,000 each on the Autobahn.Topics include:- The Range Rover SV review JLR didn’t want you to see- How Driven+ grew from a village pub to 50K subs- Supercar Sundays & community-driven content- Autobahn chaos: police stops & €3K fines- Why relatable cars beat supercars on YouTube- Dream cars that aren’t supercars (M5 CS, Land Cruisers, F12 TDF)- Future plans: buying a Lada in Armenia & driving it back to the UKThanks to Max for coming on the podcast!-Take the guesswork out of vehicle, vessel or machine repair with Jaltest from Eclipse, the No.1 multi-brand diagnostic tool. Get a FREE cable saver with your Jaltest order when you quote promo code "TALKINSHOP" in your enquiry.https://www.eclipse-tech.co.uk/jaltest-software/Driven+:https://www.youtube.com/@DrivenPlusinstagram.com/drivenplusuktiktok.com/@drivenpluskingssupercarsunday.com--To watch the video version of this podcast, visit our YouTube channel:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjuQ2nCNFT_r82U6pblEMMhlqi7416p7XFollow us on social media:Talkin’ Shop:https://www.instagram.com/talkinshoppodcast_/https://www.tiktok.com/@talkinshoppodcastEclipse:https://www.facebook.com/truck.diagnosticshttps://www.linkedin.com/company/eclipse-automotive-technology-ltd/https://www.instagram.com/eclipsediagnostics_/

In this episode of Talkin' Shop, Louis and Aaron sit down with Phil McGovern, the visionary behind Caffeine & Machine, at one of his latest venues—The Bowl. Phil opens up about the brand’s journey from a café in Dubai to a cultural movement that bridges automotive enthusiasm, community, and lifestyle.They dig into the origins of Caffeine & Machine and the story behind each location, the uphill battles with local councils and communities, Phil’s automotive love affair with Jaguar and what the future holds for C&M, including a possible international expansion.-Take the guesswork out of vehicle, vessel or machine repair with Jaltest from Eclipse, the No.1 multi-brand diagnostic tool. Get a FREE cable saver with your Jaltest order when you quote promo code "TALKINSHOP" in your enquiry.https://www.eclipse-tech.co.uk/jaltest-software/Phil McGovern:https://www.instagram.com/philmcgovern/Caffeine & Machinehttps://www.instagram.com/caffeineandmachine/https://caffeineandmachine.com/The Cult of Machine:https://www.instagram.com/thecultofmachine/https://www.thecultofmachine.com/--To watch the video version of this podcast, visit our YouTube channel:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjuQ2nCNFT_r82U6pblEMMhlqi7416p7XFollow us on social media:Talkin’ Shop:https://www.instagram.com/talkinshoppodcast_/https://www.tiktok.com/@talkinshoppodcastEclipse:https://www.facebook.com/truck.diagnosticshttps://www.linkedin.com/company/eclipse-automotive-technology-ltd/https://www.instagram.com/eclipsediagnostics_/

In this episode of Talkin' Shop, we sit down with Paul Wallace, the creator of Supercars of London, for a raw and unfiltered conversation about the real journey behind his success. From spotting Lamborghinis in Knightsbridge as a teenager to buying his own before turning 25, Paul shares the highs, lows, and everything in between.We dive into how he funded his first Audi R8, building a YouTube empire before it was cool, what it really costs to own a Lamborghini Gallardo & Murciélago, YouTube burnout, public pressure & stepping back from the grind, the golden era of car YouTube – road trips, friendships, and rivalries, why his life felt like a real-life Need for Speed and valuable life lessons on passion, balance and redefining success.*Thanks to Paul for coming on the podcast!*Take the guesswork out of vehicle, vessel or machine repair with Jaltest from Eclipse, the No.1 multi-brand diagnostic tool. Get a FREE cable saver with your Jaltest order when you quote promo code "TALKINSHOP" in your enquiry.https://www.eclipse-tech.co.uk/jaltest-software/Supercars of London (Paul Wallace):https://www.instagram.com/supercarsoflondon/https://www.instagram.com/wallacepjw/https://www.youtube.com/@supercarsoflondon/https://www.facebook.com/OfficialSupercarsofLondon/wall/--To watch the video version of this podcast, visit our YouTube channel:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjuQ2nCNFT_r82U6pblEMMhlqi7416p7XFollow us on social media:Talkin’ Shop:https://www.instagram.com/talkinshoppodcast_/https://www.tiktok.com/@talkinshoppodcastEclipse:https://www.facebook.com/truck.diagnosticshttps://www.linkedin.com/company/eclipse-automotive-technology-ltd/https://www.instagram.com/eclipsediagnostics_/

In this episode of Talkin' Shop, we're joined by WelderFabber (AKA Barry Martin or Baz) at his fabrication workshop in Preston, where he shares his story for the first time on any podcast. He talks about how he learned to weld from a very young age, how his Father taught him everything he knows and what it was like, tragically, losing him. He also discusses starting a business at 21 and the series of events that led to it ultimately failing, and the hard lessons he learned from that. He tells the shocking story of getting into an altercation with the mafia while on holiday in Marbella when he was younger, leaving him hospitalised. And finally, talks about the success that his business has seen over the years, including his proudest jobs.*Thanks to WelderFabber for coming on the podcast!*Take the guesswork out of vehicle, vessel or machine repair with Jaltest from Eclipse, the No.1 multi-brand diagnostic tool. Get a FREE cable saver with your Jaltest order when you quote promo code "TALKINSHOP" in your enquiry.https://www.eclipse-tech.co.uk/jaltest-software/WelderFabber:https://www.instagram.com/welderfabber/https://www.youtube.com/@welderfabberhttps://welderfabber.com/--To watch the video version of this podcast, visit our YouTube channel:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjuQ2nCNFT_r82U6pblEMMhlqi7416p7XFollow us on social media:Talkin’ Shop:https://www.instagram.com/talkinshoppodcast_/https://www.tiktok.com/@talkinshoppodcastEclipse:https://www.facebook.com/truck.diagnosticshttps://www.linkedin.com/company/eclipse-automotive-technology-ltd/https://www.instagram.com/eclipsediagnostics_/

In this episode of Talkin' Shop, we're joined by Chris Shaw from Every Trade, where he tells us the full, unfiltered story of how he started his company, including the mistakes he's made along the way and some of the biggest losses he's made. He also talks about his upbringing – from growing up poor to living in his dream house, entrepreneurship, and how he views his neurodiversity as a strength in business. He also gets personal, telling us about his previous marriage, relationship with his Father and how seeking therapy changed his life. It's an insightful episode, so stick around till the end!*Thanks to Chris for coming on the podcast!*Take the guesswork out of vehicle, vessel or machine repair with Jaltest from Eclipse, the No.1 multi-brand diagnostic tool. Get a FREE cable saver with your Jaltest order when you quote promo code "TALKINSHOP" in your enquiry.https://www.eclipse-tech.co.uk/jaltest-software/Every Trade:https://www.everytrade.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/every_trade/https://www.youtube.com/@Every_Trade--To watch the video version of this podcast, visit our YouTube channel:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjuQ2nCNFT_r82U6pblEMMhlqi7416p7XFollow us on social media:Talkin’ Shop:https://www.instagram.com/talkinshoppodcast_/https://www.tiktok.com/@talkinshoppodcastEclipse:https://www.facebook.com/truck.diagnosticshttps://www.linkedin.com/company/eclipse-automotive-technology-ltd/https://www.instagram.com/eclipsediagnostics_/

In this episode of Talkin' Shop, we're joined by Wheeler Dealers presenter, F1 broadcaster and former F1 mechanic, Marc 'Elvis' Priestley. He talks us through his career, telling us the story of how he got into F1 as the lead mechanic for McLaren, and then after leaving, how he got into being a presenter for Wheeler Dealers, meeting Mike for the first time. He shares with us some amazing (and funny) stories of working with F1 legends like Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton, to name just a few, along with some incredible insight into the automotive industry as a whole. Stay till the end - it's a good one!*Thanks to Marc for coming on the podcast!*If you enjoyed it, please don’t forget to like and subscribe for more!Take the guesswork out of vehicle, vessel or machine repair with Jaltest from Eclipse, the No.1 multi-brand diagnostic tool. Get a FREE cable saver with your Jaltest order when you quote promo code "TALKINSHOP" in your enquiry.https://www.eclipse-tech.co.uk/jaltest-software/Marc 'Elvis' Priestley:https://www.instagram.com/f1elvis/https://www.instagram.com/marc_priestley/https://www.youtube.com/c/F1ElvisPitlane Life Lessons Podcast:https://shows.acast.com/pitlane-life-lessons--To watch the video version of this podcast, visit our YouTube channel:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjuQ2nCNFT_r82U6pblEMMhlqi7416p7XFollow us on social media:Talkin’ Shop:https://www.instagram.com/talkinshoppodcast_/https://www.tiktok.com/@talkinshoppodcastEclipse:https://www.facebook.com/truck.diagnosticshttps://www.linkedin.com/company/eclipse-automotive-technology-ltd/https://www.instagram.com/eclipsediagnostics_/

Starting Season 2 of Talkin' Shop off with a bang, we're joined by Wheeler Dealers presenter and car trader-turned-TV-presenter, Mike Brewer at his dealership, One Automotive, where we talk all things cars, his career, and the current state of the automotive industry. Most notably, he tells us about originally being offered a presenting role on Top Gear when it first launched and why he turned it down, the worst cars on Wheeler Dealers he's worked on and finally, he shares the emotional story of what really happened when the show's much-loved Mk1 Ford Fiesta was stolen. Stay tuned till the end as it's a good one!*Thanks to Mike for coming on the podcast!*Take the guesswork out of vehicle, vessel or machine repair with Jaltest from Eclipse, the No.1 multi-brand diagnostic tool. Get a FREE cable saver with your order when you quote promo code "TALKINSHOP".https://www.eclipse-tech.co.uk/contact/Mike Brewer:https://www.instagram.com/mikebrewer/https://www.facebook.com/mike.brewer.376/One Automotive:https://www.instagram.com/oneautomotiveuk/https://www.one-automotive.co.uk/Mike Brewer Motors:https://www.instagram.com/mikebrewermotors/--To watch the video version of this podcast, visit our YouTube channel:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjuQ2nCNFT_r82U6pblEMMhlqi7416p7XFollow us on social media:Talkin’ Shop:https://www.instagram.com/talkinshoppodcast_/https://www.tiktok.com/@talkinshoppodcastEclipse:https://www.facebook.com/truck.diagnosticshttps://www.linkedin.com/company/eclipse-automotive-technology-ltd/https://www.instagram.com/eclipsediagnostics_/

In this episode of Talkin' Shop, we're joined by Daniel Ashville to talk about how he built his business, talking about the challenges and setbacks he faced along the way, plus the exclusive never-before-heard story of how it was almost stolen from him by a large investment firm! We also discuss his recent decision to stop running lorries and how that will shape the future of his business and YouTube content.Take the guesswork out of vehicle, vessel or machine repair with Jaltest from Eclipse, the No.1 multi-brand diagnostic tool. Get a FREE cable saver with your order when you quote promo code "TALKINSHOP".https://www.eclipse-tech.co.uk/contact/Daniel Ashville:https://www.instagram.com/daniellouisy/https://www.instagram.com/thisisashville/https://www.youtube.com/thisisashvillehttps://www.tiktok.com/@thisisashvillehttps://bio.link/ashvilleLinks to Daniel's favourite videos:Skip Boat:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N0xX-8099whttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwUOc2HA8Rchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIqrTjedr84Journey of a rock:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTwbDQMAnDcWorld's biggest ship:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcmt_2BC6YwLargest quarry:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRba5Kr2iM8WWII treasure underground:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2CymdMcMcg--To watch the video version of this podcast, visit our YouTube channel:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjuQ2nCNFT_r82U6pblEMMhlqi7416p7XFollow us on social media:Talkin’ Shop:https://www.instagram.com/talkinshoppodcast_/https://www.tiktok.com/@talkinshoppodcastEclipse:https://www.facebook.com/truck.diagnosticshttps://www.linkedin.com/company/eclipse-automotive-technology-ltd/https://www.instagram.com/eclipsediagnostics_/